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WNBA·ANALYSIS·September 18, 2026 01:52 AM ET

Shay matches second-best rookie quarter in WNBA history

She finished with 22 points in 21 minutes.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 181 min read
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Shay's 17 points in the third quarter tonight is tied for the second most by a rookie in WNBA history. The other five r

What happened: She scored 17 points in the third quarter and finished with 22 in 21 minutes. The 2026 names already on that list include Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles and Justine Pissott, with Rhyne Howard and Seimone Augustus from earlier seasons.

Why it matters: That kind of burst matters because rookie scoring at this level is rare enough to land beside a short historical list. A 22-point night in limited minutes is also the sort of shot-creation jolt that can force a bigger postseason role.

By the numbers: The five other 17-point rookie quarters named were Azzi Fudd, Olivia Miles and Justine Pissott in 2026, Rhyne Howard in 2022, and Seimone Augustus in 2006. Shay's stat line in the context pack was 22 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting, 3-of-5 from 3 and 9-of-9 at the line in 21 minutes.

What to watch: Watch whether the scoring spike turns into more closing minutes and more on-ball reps next time out. The longer-term marker is whether this rookie class keeps stacking historic single-quarter scoring nights.

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